Williams – the NCAA Division 3 runner-up last season and the national champions in 2003 - raised its record to 5-0 in winning the first basketball game played in Westfield State’s new field house – the Woodward Center. The Owls dropped to 1-3 before a crowd of 750.
Westfield took an early 3-0 lead on a 3-point basket by Tony Collier, but Williams ran off 12 straight points for a 12-3 edge with 13:25 left in the first half. The Ephs tall frontline dominated the inside at the outset led by the 6-5 Kain and the 6-8 Newton.
Williams led 36-24 at halftime on the strength of its 57 percent shooting from the floor. Westfield closed to within nine points several times in the second half, but the Ephs responded with some key 3-point baskets and transition buckets.
Junior guard Bayete Gordon (Amherst, MA) led Westfield with 16 points and four assists. Collier collected 12 points and senior forward Vaso Jaukovic had 10 points and a game-high six steals.